Prairie North Health Region is resuming its influenza immunization clinics, according to the clinics' original schedule.
Clinics had been temporarily suspended as a result of a Health Canada review of flu vaccine made by the pharmaceutical firm Novartis. The review has been completed, and Health Canada has confirmed that the vaccine is safe for use, according to a PNHR press release.
Health Canada lifted its precautionary hold on the vaccines Wednesday and Saskatchewan has announced that immunization clinics across the province may resume.
"We are moving quickly to pick up our already scheduled clinics across Prairie North," says Diane Piper, manager of Public Health Services for PNHR.
The clinics resumed Thursday.
Piper reminds residents the most effective way to protect yourself, your family and community from getting influenza is to be immunized.
"We strongly encourage everyone to get their flu vaccine at a local clinic," states Piper.
People who have already received a flu shot with a Novartis vaccine in Saskatchewan this year do not need to be revaccinated.
Prairie North will assess the situation over the next few days to determine if the four clinics cancelled by the temporary suspension of immunizations need to be rescheduled. Those clinics had been set for Lloydminster, Maidstone, Meadow Lake, and North Battleford. The public will be advised of any additional clinics.
Piper urges individuals who have not yet received their flu shot to look at the originally publicized clinic schedule for dates, times and locations of the clinics.
The public is also advised to check the schedule of immunization clinics in Prairie North Health Region online at www.pnrha.ca or by calling the region's toll-free Influenza Immunization Line at 1-877-833-4161.
